In a telegram to Cardinal Eusebio Scheid, Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, Pope Benedict XVI sent his blessing to the 106 bishops gathered in the Brazilian city, exhorting them to proclaim and bear witness to the Gospel of Peace.

In his message the participants of a theological and spiritual renewal conference, the Holy Father noted the theme of the event, “Social Communication for Evangelization,” coincides with his recent message for the World Day of Peace, in which he emphasized “the duty of all Catholics to intensify their proclamation of and witness to the Gospel of Peace, proclaiming the recognition of God’s full truth.”